Rockin' it out...

My two super cool studs rockin' their mohawks after their baths. I can't decide who to eat up first!

And from www.blog.amuchbetterway.com- info about the necklace Drake is wearing.

Baltic Amber is a traditional remedy for pain and teething that has been used for centuries around the world.
Sold in pharmacies in Europe, they are starting to become more mainstream elsewhere as awareness grows. They are a very natural alternative to drugs and other over the counter teething remedies that seem to have a very short effectiveness if any.

The amber works by releasing Succinic acid into the body when worn against warm skin. Succinic acid is a natural analgesic and works as long as your child is wearing the jewelry. The amber is lightweight and warm to the touch because it is a resin, not a stone. The necklace is knotted between each bead for safety and amber is naturally a safe material and is therefore CPSIA compliant automatically.

Rear Facing Carseats

I've been meaning to find time to blog about this forever. Computer time is scarce here, but Drake is at the grandparents, so I have a few minutes.

The National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, now recommend that children remain REAR FACING in their carseats until at LEAST two years of age. Why? Because it is safer. Watch this video, and it'll show you why.



Watch You tube video

So, now that you've seen the visual aids, maybe it makes more sense. It certainly did to me once I saw videos about remaining rear facing. I understand the arguments to face forward. For most people, it's that their kids legs are SOOOO long. Boo freakin' hoo. I know I sound like a unsympathetic bitch here, but seriously???? Would you rather have your kid's neck or leg snapped? Another frequent argument is that the child throws major fits rear facing. I'm sure Drake has you beat. He's gotten better since we moved from the Peg Perego seat to the Britax, but he is still capable of quite the fit. I'm sure that moving him to facing forward would make it better, but he is just going to have to deal.

Eli is ready to eat, so I've gotta run. But seriously- think about keeping those sweet babies rear facing!

SIGG bottles

So, I was as shocked as the next person when I read this earlier in the week. Shocked, and disgusted. But in some ways, I wasn't shocked. And that was the sad part. Companies will do anything to make money, include misleading their customers. I, needless to say, won't be buying any more SIGG products. Check out the below in italics, which is copied from www.inhabitots.com. There is also a great article on another blog I follow; feel free to check it out too. www.crunchydomesticgoddess.com


SIGG water bottles, which have long been perceived to be the eco-friendly alternative to plastic water bottles, has just confessed something that has sent huge ripples through the media - all of their bottles manufactured before August of last year actually DO contain BPA - according to a press statement made by Sigg CEO Steve Wasik. In case you aren’t familiar with the notorious chemical, Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor. Part of what made SIGG so popular in the first place was when SIGG marketing tactics involved pointing fingers at polycarbonate water bottle manufacturers - claiming that these types of bottles leached BPA. Not surprisingly, parents and eco-conscious consumers everywhere turned to SIGG bottles as a safe way to tote water on the go without being exposed to the dangerous effects of bisphenol-A, but there is a daunting sense of mistrust now that we learn we’ve been duped. Read on to see how SIGG was able to mislead us.

SIGG’s proprietary “water-based epoxy liner,” was indeed suspected of containing BPA, but representatives from the company released statements stating that the liner was never found to leach BPA in extensive tests. Reassuring to the public as that was, the whole thing was a matter of syntax. In actuality, SIGG is now admitting that their product did contain BPA, although it was never found to leach it. The tricky wording seems like it was a blatant attempt to draw our attention away from the truth, but there is no evidence of SIGG having lied - technically.

The shocking facts came to light when, one whole year after changing their liner to a new “EcoCare” BPA-free formula, SIGG fessed up. We’re happy to see that they have made an effort to rectify their mistake, but the lost trust won’t be easy to regain. Companies need to be forthcoming about what materials are in their products - especially when we are talking about children’s drinking and feeding products.

Diapering and Dining

So, diapering and dining. That's pretty much all Drake's life consists of. The only two other ingredients are sleeping and playing, but that's another blog for another day. Drake is almost 7 months now (next WEDNESDAY!!!), which I just cannot believe.

He is on solids, and thoroughly enjoying them. There is an older post about why we started at 6 months, which you could search and find if you really want to know. And to add to that, I read in Parenting Magazine yesterday, that starting before 6 months also increases the chance your child will have problems with childhood obesity. Anyhow, so he's on solids and loves it. He starts veggies soon. That's gonna be lots of fun- I've heard it makes the poop smelly and all kinds of funky colors. I make his food with the Beaba food steamer/puree. It is a fabulous kitchen gadget~~~I highly recommend it. I don't make his cereals, because the store bought ones include iron. I buy them organic from Earthfare, rather than making my own and having to give him a vitamin. I think that's about it for dining. In another couple years, I'll probably finally get around to posting photos of him eating carrots for the first time.

Now, diapering. Our little family enjoys cloth diapering. No, it's not gross. I personally find disposables disgusting. Our cloth dipes don't stink anywhere close to a sposie. And if you could feel how soft they are, you just may be convinced too. Did you know that the main ingredient in sposies that is there for absorbency was made illegal in the 1980's? However, it's only illegal in tampons, not diapers. So it's okay for my child, but not for me? Yehhh.....right....

Anyhow, back on track here. Drake has some really cool diapers. Especially since I took all my prefolds to NY and Canada when we went to see Eric's family. Lindsay, Eric's sister, cloth diapers as well. She had the genius idea from this message board that we frequent, to tie-dye our prefolds. To give a brief synopsis on the types of CD, a prefold is an "old-school" diaper that wraps around the baby and requires a cover. We used Dylon, b/c it supposedly doesn't bleed as bad. It was SO much fun, and now our kiddos have cute prefolds as well as pocket diapers. Our SIL Dianna did her burp cloths, and they turned out really cute too. We're trying to convert Dianna to a CD user for her next kid:-) So, I've included some pics for your viewing pleasure below.

We asked for a clothesline, and voila.....a clothesline appeared. Thanks to Eric's dad Denny! We had to have a place for everything to dry. These are a bunch of the prefolds.

The red dye turned out to be hot pink. Lacey has lots of cool pink diapers, and Drake is getting in touch with his feminine side.
Lacey's onesie- too cute!
Some from the first day. That's a fitted diaper in the middle. And one of Gavin's burpcloths.
One of the keys to tie-dying is to wear old clothes and an apron. And gloves! That stuff gets everywhere. My dear husband requested a photo of me in an apron.
My stash from Peekaboo Bottoms. I LOVE that store. I will be going back there every summer. It's about 20 minutes from the cottage in Ontario Canada. They have a website you can order from too! If you become their friend on facebook, you can register for free diapers. I got some Blueberry velour/minky pocket diapers which are absolutely heavenly. Plus some containers for Drake's food that I make. Oooh- and a Thirsties Duo cover. These just came out, and I'm a big fan. I also got the big man an amber teething necklace, which works great. And,...........WOOL SHORTIES!!!!! I am very excited to be venturing into wool covers. Despite common misconceptions, wool is very soft, cool, and breathable.
The final product of my cooking, in the freezer. Something about seeing homemade, organic baby food beside breastmilk makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. And quite proud!!!!!!
The carrots, all done and ready for the freezer.
So, I got the wrong type of peas, so that was a no-go. But here are my carrots, squash, and zucchini~~~all ready to be steamed and pureed. Eric did the washing, peeling, and dicing. Only the carrots get peeled, because of their nitrates. The others keep their peel for the nutritious value. You wouldn't believe all the info out on the net about making your own babyfood. I'm apparently not the only mommy who has "gone granola".
Drake's first taste of rice cereal. He loves it. He's already moved on to oatmeal cereal. The veggies start Sunday!

Starting solid food

No, Drake is not on solids. I sure do get that question a lot. He's not on solids because he doesn't need them. I have lots of allergies, and was fortunate to outgrow all of my food allergies. But when I was first tortured with allergy testing in the 5th grade, I was allergic to EVERYTHING. No, I'm not exaggerating. Ask my parents. It was ridiculous. So, I'm very particular about waiting to at least six months before Drake gets solids. And that's just one reason. There are plenty more. But that's the main one for us. I'm copying an article from the associated content that has more info. If reposting it educates just one other mother, then my job here is done. And, maybe I'll quit being asked all the time about feeding Drake solids. It gets old.

Starting Solid Food

The Dangers of Starting Solids Early

A lot of women, especially first time mothers, are eager to introduce solid foods to their babies. It's another first, a new experience to remember together. It is so cute when they take those first few bites from the little baby spoon, letting pureed peaches dribble down their chins just a bit. Some people do it because it seems like their babies aren't getting enough out of formula or breastmilk. If they were, they wouldn't be so hungry all of the time, right? It's also convenient to have something other than liquid to offer a crying child, and maybe it will help them develop independence. After all, your mom constantly reminds you that you started eating baby food at a month old and were off formula by six months!

The truth is that babies need nothing but formula or breastmilk for the first six months of life. Frequent freedings are just a part of parenting a newborn. Feeding them solids won't make them less hungry or help them sleep through the night. It can actually make them very sick, because the intestinal tract is not completely developed until a baby is six months old. They simply are not internally ready to digest anything other than formula and breastmilk, even if they manage to swallow. Showing an interest in food doesn't necessarily mean their stomachs are ready. Not every interest is healthy. Would you let your baby have candy for every meal because he was interested, knowing it wasn't the best food for him?

The WHO, Unicef, the US Department of Health & Human Services, the AAP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Dietetic Association, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and Health Canada all recommend that babies not be given solids until they are six months of age. As Dr. Jim Sears said on the Dr. Phil show, ""The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that no foods are given before 6 months. And that's very, very important. Many of the books out there still say the old recommendations 4 to 6 months. Now it's nothing before 6 months." Those old numbers are outdated; six months is the new guideline.
Dr. Jim Sears went on to say, on Friday, January 19, "Now why? It's very important. We've learned that the baby's intestines just are not ready to handle all these other foods, anything other than milk, OK? And starting them sooner can lead to food allergies or even more severe intestinal problems."

A baby's digestive system is not ready to handle solids until six months of age. Starting solids before then will result in poor digestion and negative reactions, such as an upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Gastric acid and pepsin, needed to digest protein, don't near adult values until a baby is several months old. Amylase, a pancreatic enzyme that digests starches, is not abundant enough until six months. Moreover, carbohydate enzymes are not at adult levels until a baby is 7 months old. Babies are unprepared for proper fat digestion until as late as 9 months, due to low levels of lipase and bile salts. It may be better to wait to introduce solids between 7-9 months, and it is certainly not healthy to introduce them when a child is only three or four months old.

Beginning solids early also increases risk of food allergies. Our bodies have a filtering system that keeps hazardous substances from being absorbed into the bloodstream. At six months of age, our intestines produce a protein immunoglobulin that coats our intestinal walls for this purpose. This process is called closure. In the early months, allergens can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, causing our bodies to produce antibodies against them. Solids shouldn't be introduced until after the baby's gut has closed, especially if food allergies run in the family.

All of the nutrients and calories a baby needs is in the formula and breastmilk. Supplementing with solid food usually means eliminating a milk meal, which denies your child those nutrients. Formula and breastmilk are loaded with tons more than pureed baby foods, so this can deprive them of what they need to grow and develope in the most healthy way. Babies do not absorb nutrients from solids as well as liquids in the early months, which can also contribute to babies not getting enough out of their meals. Iron-fortified foods decrease the efficiency of a baby's iron absorption, which can cause anemia.
If you feed them milk in addition to a solid meal, you're at risk of overfeeding. Younger babies usually cannot signal when they are full by turning away or showing disinterest; they do not develope that ability until they are a little older. This can cause you to teach a baby to ignore
the signs of fullness and contribute to overeating later in life. Studies have shown that starting solids early is associated with a higher weight in childhood and more body fat.

Many babies cannot properly swallow before they are six months old, which can cause choking. Younger infants have a tongue-thrust reflex that protects the baby against choking. They automatically rejected anything solid by pushing it out with their tongues until the reflect disappears. Younger babies are also not very good at chewing, being that many do not even have teeth until later in their first year of life. They begin producing a lot more saliva around this time, which will break down their solid foods and is another reason to delay the introduction of solids. This is about the time that most babies learn to sit up as well, another reason it is the prime age at which to introduce solids. Starting solids sooner also deprives baby of the physical closeness they crave that they get during milk feeding sessions, when they are held.

There are some foods that should not be given until a year. The list includes cow milk, honey, and egg whites. There is not enough iron in cow milk, which can contribute to anemia. Moreover, babies that are fed cow milk early can develope an allergy to it that can cause problems ranging from a runny nose to a rash to even ear infections. Introducing egg whites before a year increases risk of allergy to eggs. Honey contains bacteria that can be harmful to a baby as well.

Dr. Sears went on to advise parents about how to start solids, "Traditionally, the first food is rice cereal. We used to always tell our patients that. But look at what rice cereal is: it's all carbs! Americans are carboholics already, and that's probably where it starts. So we really should start with fruits and vegetables. Mashed bananas are a great first food. Avocado is another great first food. It's very high in the healthy fats that the babies' brains need." Rice cereal is actually not the best first food, because as we just learned, a baby doesn't have enough carbohydrate enzymes to properly handle the high-carb content of rice cereal until 7 months. The sources of this article include several guides to solid introduction.

Your baby will let you know when she is ready for solids. When she can sit up on her own, show signs that she is hungry, has teeth or has begun teething, shows an interest in your food, and does not push solids out with her tongue, then she is ready to start. Don't rush into it too soon,
as there are absolutely no benefits to starting solids early. Delaying solids can help give your child a much better start to life that will benefit her throughout her many years on this Earth--especially if you breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. There is no need to be in a hurry. Enjoy the bonding that comes through the closeness of bottle or breastfeeding time. Solids can wait.

May 31, 2009

May 31st should be a happy day in my family. It is my brother's birthday, and Eric's dad's birthday. For everyone in my family, it is a happy day. But not for me. It's more of a bittersweet day for me. And the sad thing is, no one probably even remembers why. I do, and Eric does. But I'm not sure about anyone else. This year, 2009, my child would be 3.

In September of 2005, Eric and I found ourselves (well, myself actually) pregnant. It was unplanned and unexpected, yet not unwelcome. Once we got over the shock, we were happy. We were excited and already falling in love with our little "peanut". Somehow we came upon that nickname, because that was exactly what the ultrasound photo looked like. I was surprised how quickly Eric turned into "daddy to be" mode. I was impressed. There were still 3 months before I was due to finish grad school. It wasn't too big of a deal in that regard; manageable. The pregnancy was pretty normal. I got to see the heartbeat about 6-7 weeks. That was an amazing moment. I didn't feel or look pregnant, yet there was my child on that screen. A heartbeat. A life. My child. That moment changed everything. I went to the waiting room, and just hugged Eric and cried. I was so happy everything was okay. I was so happy to see my sweet baby's heart beating. We were due May 31st.

Everything changed on November 15th, 2005. I had an appointment for a triplescreen, which included some bloodwork and an ultrasound. We had not realized at our first appointment that it was normal for the dad to come back with the mom. But at this second appointment Eric was with me and went back for all the U/S, etc. We were so super pumped. Eric even brought his dictaphone (voice/sound recorder) to record the heartbeat. The technician started scanning and we were both just mesmerized by the screen. I remember that there were little teeny arms. Then she asked, "Have you been having any complications like bleeding or cramping?". That question changed everything. I told her that I did early on, but it had been 6 weeks since that. She continued to scan, with a concerned look on her face. She then spoke the words that changed my life. "I'm sorry to tell you, but there is no longer a heartbeat. Your child has died". All I remember is reaching for Eric's hand, and my eyes filling with tears. I remember that she told me it was not my fault, that I couldn't have done anything to prevent it. I don't really remember much else from that room, except climbing off that table and into Eric's arms. And sobbing, and sobbing.

They moved us to another room to talk with the doctor, and I continued to just bawl my eyes out. I finally pulled it together, only to lose it again when the OB came in. She presented us with two options: wait, and let nature take its course; or have a D&E. That stands for dilation and evacuation. In short, it is a quick outpatient surgery which essentially cleans out your uterus. According to the ultrasound measurements, they thought our baby had died about two weeks earlier. We figured that since nature hadn't done it's job yet, we weren't going to continue waiting. We scheduled surgery for the 18th.

I will say that there are some perks to being in the anesthesia field. Mainly, I got to choose people I really trusted and respected to take care of me. I was really worried I'd say some inappropriate things after they drugged me up, that could get me in trouble as a student. Thank you again to Mary, and Jamie and Gene for taking such good care of me.

November is no longer quite as hard for me. But May is. Especially the 31st. I still call my brother and FIL to wish them Happy Birthday, and I mean it. But what I really want is to be singing Happy Birthday to my child. That's what would truly make me happy. The hardest day was 5-31-06, the day he was due. ( I say he because I always felt in my heart it was a boy. We never knew.) 2007 and 2008 weren't as bad. But 2009 is turning out to be really hard for me. I think it's because now I really know and understand the love a parent has for a child after holding them in their arms. Loving Drake reminds me of my first child that I don't get to hold in my arms. It is sometimes beyond comprehension how much I love Drake. But, I'm sure you other parents out there understand. Missing my peanut doesn't take away from my love for Drake. If anything, it makes me love and appreciate him even more.

I was the first out of my friends to have a miscarriage. It is a heartbreak that no one can explain. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. There are appropriate and inappropriate things to say. I suggest that if you ever find yourself in a position to give kind words or advice to a miscarriage survivor, choose them wisely. They will leave a lasting imprint.

The way people treated Eric and myself during our pregnancy and loss varied greatly. I won't get into that here. But there are some people I want to specifically name and thank. Even if they never read this, I want to thank them. This post is for me and my healing, not really for anyone else's entertainment. My friends Paula and Katie were great. They held me, cried with me, and took me shopping at Target to distract me. There were two long and miserable days in between that god awful ultrasound, and my D&E. There were two CRNA's that were particularly kind. Dana cried with me when I told her I'd miscarried. Debbie let me go home early when I never really managed to quit crying during clinical. My friends Adriann and Chasity sent me flowers. Eric's parents sent us flowers as well. Eric's mom was wonderfully supportive with kind words. We went to NY for Thanksgiving a week after my surgery, and his Aunt Leslie said the kindest words to me. I still remember vividly how sweet she was. It was so nice for her to acknowledge what I was going through.

I still can't talk about my loss without crying. Heck, I can't really talk about miscarriage in general without crying. It is a true loss. I saw my child on that screen, with his heart beating. He was alive. He was mine. And he died. He would be three next weekend. I miss him.

My rants for the day.......

I know I have ranted about these things before. However, I'm feeling the need to rant again. And the glorious thing is, that since this is my blog, I can! If I seem too harsh.....well then quit reading. Since I blog about things I am passionate about, I'm often very harsh and abrasive.

First off, I am SICK AND TIRED of people referring to a vaginal birth as a natural birth. Let me set the record straight. There are two ways for little ones to enter this world: either via a C-section, or through a vagina. It's just a word for heavens sake: v-a-g-i-n-a. It's a body part like all the rest of them. SAY THE WORD!!! It's not a dirty word. It's okay to say it, I promise. Maybe I'm more okay with it b/c I use correct medical terminology frequently. I sure wish others would. What REALLY pisses me of though is to hear someone in the medical field (particularly an OB!!!) say natural when they really mean vaginal. If they would just use correct terminology, then maybe patients would too. A natural birth is a vaginal birth without drugs, epidurals, and unnecessary interventions. Natural, as in the way our bodies were designed and created. I find it personally offensive for someone who had a vaginal birth with tons of interventions to call their birth natural. MY birth was natural, Yours was vaginal. I didn't have an IV, epidural, episiotomy, etc etc. When someone who did not have a true natural birth claims they did, I am personally offended by such a false claim. For the love of God, just say it........VAGINAL birth. It will be okay to say the vajayjay word. Okay, rant number one over.

Now, onto rant number two. PEOPLE OFFENDED BY BREASTFEEDING.

I am so frustrated with our society here in America, that people can't get over seeing breasts as a sexual obsession. They are not my husbands funbags. (Thank you Allie on Oprah!) God designed my body with breasts that lactate and produce milk to nourish and feed my child. That is their purpose. They serve NO OTHER purpose. (Yes Eric may disagree, but he's not the author of this blog:-)

I understand that a generation or two before mine simply didn't breastfeed, but surely everyone has heard by now that it's healthier for our babies. So if you know it's good for my little man, and you aren't looking at my boobs as a sex object, then what's the big deal?!?! If it makes you feel better (and you are a Christian) just look at it as me glorifying God by using my body in the way he intended. I'm not going to hide in the car, or corner, or bedroom. I am going to feed my child wherever and whenever I please. If you are not comfortable with it, you can put a blanket over YOUR head. My poor baby already has to be covered with a "hooter hider", and that's bad enough in my opinion. Okay, second rant over.

Ya know, I only had two rants I really wanted to blog about. But I'm gonna throw in my third one. Just to round it out.

The nurses at Drake's pediatricians office annoy the hell out of me. For the most part. (Some of them are okay). I have told them THREE TIMES now that all vaccines are to be drawn up in front of me, after I look at the vial. I just don't trust people. If Drake was sick and in the hospital, I would require the same thing there. I would personally want to inspect all drugs and dosages before they gave him anything. Shit happens, but not to my child if I can help it. I took Drake for his dtap vaccine today, and we walked in the room to a syringe on the counter. It had "dtap" written on it in black sharpie. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? I mean seriously people, how many times do we have to go through this. It's written in the chart, so read it if you can spare a second. I vaccinate Drake on an alternative and selective schedule that I am comfortable with, and I don't doubt for one second that they are capable of screwing it up. They were really close to giving him dtap last visit, when I had only consented for Hib. It's a good thing I'm so vigilant!

And on a little bit of a side tangent from that, the after hours nurse line annoys me. I've only had one experience with it. I have learned from that experience, and it'll be different the next time. The only time we had to call was when we had thrush. It was a Saturday, and since my midwives called in some meds for me, I wanted Drake started on meds as well. It was a nurse who returned my call, asked a bunch of questions, and then "called in" his prescription. With some doctor who I've never met name on the bottle. I got to thinking about it. Here I am talking with someone who is less educated than me, and my husband, making medical diagnoses over the phone, and then calling in a rx. I'm simply not comfortable with that. So next time, I will be the obnoxious, overprotective, bitchy mother. I will be the one who refuses to deal with the nurse, and demands to either speak directly to the nurse practitioner or doctor on call. Yep, that'll be me. Is it wrong to simply want to talk to someone who I'm confident knows more than Eric and I? I mean in all honesty, we could just pretent to know everything, and Eric could call in whatever rx's we think Drake needs. But we don't. That's why we have a pediatrician. And next time, LET ME TALK TO HIM.

And on a side note, the medicines never worked for the thrush. We used a natural homeopathic remedy called gentian violet that finally got rid of it. And to think people make fun of me for being all granola. Ya know, sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out.......

If you made it this far in the post, I am impressed. Strong work, and thanks for listening! :-)

I'm now addicted to recording and posting video. I can't wait to go to the apple store and learn about all the cool stuff I-movie can do. So, the video getting ready to go up has three parts. The first is to show the world Drake's adorable purple face. He has thrush, and traditional medicines have done nothing at all. We've resorted to natural old school remedy, recommended by the lactation consultants, and my midwife. It's called gentian violet, and it kills the yeast that causes thrush. It also stains everything bright purple, including Drake's face. So, that's the first part of the video. The second part is to show you how strong my big guy is! And the third is of this nonsense known as snow in March. I'm quite ticked about this weather. I want sun!!! And warmth!!! So anyway, that's the video. Enjoy!

24 weeks and 4 days, and Circumcision

Today I had my monthly checkup, and it was with Tina. This was the third time I've seen her, and I like her more each time. I would be really happy if she is the one on call when Shim arrives. Shim's FHT were in the 140's, so that is right on target. She felt my belly and listened to him, and said everything looks great. And she even told me I look cute, so I was thrilled. I'm just not feeling all that cute these days. Other preggos look cute to me, but I'm just starting to feel uncomfortable. I have this allergy and cough thing going on, which I get twice a year when the seasons/temps change. Tina told me to take some Zyrtec and Mucinex with plenty of water. Hopefully this will improve soon, because it's making sleeping very difficult.

Tina asked today if we were going to be circumsizing little Shim. Eric and I have talked about it a great deal, and are leaning towards definitely not doing it. When I told Tina that, her response was that our decision goes right along with what AAP recommends. (American Academy of Pediatrics). In any case, here is some info on circumcisions.

From www.circumcision.org
Response to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Circumcision Policy Statement

SIGNS OF PROGRESS
The statement takes a position of not recommending circumcision. Consistent with all previous AAP reports, no proven, actual benefits for circumcision are found. The claims of potential medical benefits are discussed in more detail that the last report (1989) and shown to be insignificant. The debate about medical benefits is over.

The report recognizes the extreme pain and trauma caused by circumcision as evidenced by large increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels during circumcision. The AAP notes that according to a recent study, circumcised infants exhibit a stronger pain response to vaccination at six months than uncircumcised infants, demonstrating that the effects of circumcision are not short-lived. By calling for pain medication, in the form of injection into the infant’s penis, the AAP acknowledges that this extreme pain and trauma of circumcision are serious.

The AAP statement acknowledges that the foreskin contains "a concentration of specialized sensory cells" and reports that "penile sensation and sexual satisfaction are decreased for circumcised males."

The statement references a report that circumcised men are more likely to engage in various sexual practices such as masturbation and heterosexual oral sex. This finding suggests that without a foreskin to contribute to sexual pleasure, circumcised men seek alternative forms of stimulation to compensate for their loss.

The report identifies 20 different possible circumcision complications. The 1989 report only mentioned bleeding, infection, and death as possible complications.

It warns physicians that parents should not be coerced by medical professionals to choose circumcision, suggesting that some medical professionals have coerced parents to choose circumcision. In fact, some infants have been circumcised even though parents explicitly requested no circumcision.

As in previous reports, hygiene is not an issue. According to the report, "there is little evidence to affirm the association between circumcision status and optimal penile hygiene.


And from www.kidshealth.org
Approximately 55% to 65% of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States each year, though this rate varies by region (western states have the lowest rates and the north central region has the highest). The procedure is much more widespread in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East than in Asia, South America, Central America, and most of Europe, where it's uncommon.

Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family.
Despite the possible benefits and risks, circumcision is neither essential nor detrimental to a boy's health. The AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) do not endorse the procedure as a way to prevent any of the medical conditions mentioned previously. The AAP also does not find sufficient evidence to medically recommend circumcision or argue against it.

That's just a little information and intro, and there is tons more out there. I've done alot of reading; enough to make up my mind. But, I'm not the one with a penis, so I'm letting Eric have a great deal of input with this decision. We are not Jewish or Islamic, so we have no relegious basis for doing it. Only about half of baby boys are circumsized these days, so the whole argument of "Don't you want him to look like everyone else in the locker room?" doesn't fly. By the time he's in a locker room, I'm hoping it'll be about half and half between the boys are are and aren't. As far as medical reasons, the benefits are so small percentage wise. So are the risks. It really just comes down to a personal decision.

In my research I learned that the reason circumcision was started thousands of years ago was to decrease the sensitivity of the penis, thereby deterring masturbation. Well, it didn't work, but the practice caught on and became prevalent. Well, now in Africa female circumcision is being forced on women to decrease their sexual pleasure, and called "genital mutilation". The rest of the world is horrified, and trying to find ways to stop it. Where was the horror when we started doing this to baby boys who didn't have a say so?

Well, enough of my soapbox of the day. Eric and I haven't made a final decision, but it should be pretty obvious which way I lean. Medicaid no longer pays for circumcision. Other insurances are stopping reimbursement. And when a peds urologist I work with straight up told me the reason it's still so popular is b/c of money to be made, my mind was made up. He says that as soon as all insurances stop reimbursement, you will be hard pressed to find ANY doctor who will do it, without out of pocket payment up front. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Okay, I'm really done now. Circumcision soapbox over.

And can I just say that I REALLY like having a blog where I can just go on and on about whatever I'm passionate about at the moment!!! And if someone doesn't like it, they can leave a nasty comment, and I CAN DELETE IT! This is truly fabulous. I can't believe it's taken me this long in life to discover the beauty of blogging. My JM friend Angela is the first member of my entourage. I expect the paparazzi to show up any moment now. Gotta go freshen up my lipstick :-)

Plastic and toys

So, over time I hope to make many blog posts that better explain why I make some of my parenting decisions. I don't necessarily feel the need to explain myself or justify my decisions, but rather would like to help our family and friends understand us bit better. Me, rather. Eric just goes along with whatever I think, for the most part. As long as I have a good rationale with research to back it up, he's usually okay with it.

Now for a few disclaimers. Just because I do research and make a decision that I feel is best, doesn't mean I expect everyone and anyone to agree. It also does not mean that I think other parents who make opposite decisions are making bad ones. Every parent makes choices that are right for them, and I am the last one that should be judging that. I also don't care to hear how your child did such and such (that is opposite from our way), and turned out just fine. That's great, but I just assume someone support us rather than question us. Disclaimers over...

Now, onto the plastic issue, the topic of tonight. There are two things in alot of plastics that I've become aware of through research, and would prefer to avoid. One is BPA(bisphenol A), the other PVC (polyvinlychloride). I've chosen bottles to use that don't have either, and silicone pacifier's as well. Another big thing with these two ingredients is toys. Considering that most babies until 18 months or so are always chewing on a toy, this is one of the big things for me. Making the attempt to keep wooden chew toys around, rather than plastic ones, is one small effort I can make. Unfortunately, they are very hard to find in regular stores like Target and the such. Thankfully, the internet is full of sites for these toys. HABA is one of the biggest name brands. The countries of the European Union made PVC illegal in their toys almost ten years ago---Why is the US always behind??? It really frustrates me. Here is some info from the net:

General tips for toy buying:
General Tips on Buying Safer Products for Kids

Buy less! The easiest way to avoid toys with toxic chemicals is to buy less! For some tips on reducing gift buying, see: "Simplify the Holidays".

Avoid toys that list vinyl or PVC as an ingredient (#3 plastic). Soft plastic toys like bath toys, squeeze toys, and dolls are commonly made of vinyl. If you're not sure if a toy contains vinyl or PVC try looking it up in our database. If you see high levels of chlorine, it is likely that the product contains PVC. If the product you are curious about is not in our database, ask the manufacturer or consider an alternative product.
Steer clear of vinyl lunch boxes; choose cloth lunch bags instead.
Choose uncoated cotton bibs instead of vinyl bibs, or choose bibs made of non-PVC plastic.
Avoid diaper covers, rain gear, and backpacks made of vinyl (PVC).
Choose mattresses made of wool, cotton, or natural latex that don't have vinyl covers.
Choose wool changing pads or portable fabric changing pads that do not have vinyl linings.
For a guide to safer plastics, see: http://www.iatp.org/ foodandhealth/
When possible choose plastic-free toys such as fabric teethers, unpainted wooden toys or cloth and plush toys. Polycarbonate plastic (#7 plastic) should also be avoided. For a guide to safer plastics, see: http://www.iatp.org/ foodandhealth/

Avoid children's metal jewelry and toys with small pieces, particularly magnetic pieces. For more information, see CDC's website on lead in jewelry

Check recall lists regularly, and if a toy has been recalled, send it back to the manufacturer. To receive email recall alerts from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Take action! We can't just purchase our way out of this problem. We need Government and industry to make our products safer!

And some info on PVC/BPA specifically:
From IV tubing to baby bottles, though, plastics are under attack.

The truth is that some plastics are better than others, both for the environment and for our health. For those interested, look at the bottom of most household items made of plastic. There's a number in a triangular shape, usually 1 through 7. According to The Green Guide, avoid #3, 6 and 7; #1 and 2 are considered safer. Why? Well, not all plastics are created equally. We are learning more and more each day about the health detriments of plastic exposure.

The dangers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been known for some time. Phthalates, the "plasticizer" in PVC, has been linked to asthma and other allergic disorders as well as endocrine disruption; PVC's are suspected carcinogens, too. Fortunately, Health Care Without Harm, the environmental supergroup, has been working with the health care industry to remove harmful PVC's from products like IV tubing.

Bisphenol-A (BPA), a component of #7 plastics, is the subject of most recent concern for environmental health advocates. Found in most baby bottles and canned formula, BPA has been linked to several health disorders. A Federal investigative panel concluded recently that exposure to BPA has effects on neurobehavioral and endocrine development both in utero and after birth, in infants and children. The panel's report has been widely criticized as being not harsh enough, using terms like "some concern" or "minimal concern" for the above health effects. To me, again, it comes down to whether or not you believe in the precautionary principle. If you can't assure safety within a reasonable degree, avoid use. But alas, the plastics industries do not embrace the principle, and our federal government seems more interested in the bottom line than in our children's health.

Because of all the above info and research I've read, I decided to make what small choices I can to protect Shim from this stuff. First thing was registering for Born Free bottles. I may also register for some Dr. Browns, I've heard they have a safe version. I am most obviously not the only mother on this bandwagon, and discovered that at Babies R Us (BRU). When I asked a question at the help/registry desk about a particular pacifier and PVC number, they pulled out a sheet from under the desk. It contained every product in the store considered to be BPA/ PVC "safe". I was shocked and quite impressed. Now, I do just want to say that I am realistic. I know that babies put anything and everything in their mouths. Yes, I know that Shim will chew on his fair share of plastic toys. But if I have wooden rattles/chew toys laying around to substitute for the plastic ones, it will make me feel better. As I see it, every little bit helps.

Here are some websites for wooden toys for anyone interested in how cute they can be:
www.childtrek.com
www.planethappytoys.com
www.oompa.com

So now I've blogged about midwives, doulas, and the whole plastic/wooden toy thing. I still want to blog about hypnobabies, breastfeeding, cloth diapers, organic products, vaccinations, and quite a few more I can't think of right this second. If you haven't figured it out yet, I've become quite granola and crunchy. I haven't always been this way. It kinda started when I moved to Charlotte, which is funny b/c this isn't generally a granola city. I mean, it's not Asheville by any means. But I sure do think I'd fit in just fine there. Or Seattle. (Hi Carmie!) Being pregnant has really amped up my crunchiness. Eric isn't by any means, other than recycling. He just mostly goes along with whatever I choose, within reason. Since he is also in the medical field, supplying him with research goes a long way. Okay, that's quite enough of my random ramblings for tonight. Hope your Sunday is a great one!